From FamilySearch Wiki

Directories are alphabetical lists of names and addresses. These often list all the adult residents or tradesmen of a city or area. Telephone books are a type of directory.

The most helpful directories for genealogical research are city directories of local residents and businesses. These are generally published annually and may include an individual’s name, address, occupation, and spouse’s name, as well as other helpful facts. An individual’s address can be very useful when searching in a large city with several parishes. Directories sometimes have city maps and may include addresses of churches, cemeteries, civil registration offices, and other locations of value to genealogists.

The Family History Library has directories for some of the major cities of Brazil. These are listed in the "Place Search" section of the FamilySearch Catalog under:

BRAZIL, [STATE], [CITY] - DIRECTORIES

Some directories list only certain types of tradesmen or businesses. These are listed in the "Place Search" section of the FamilySearch Catalog under the topics "directories" or "occupations." There are also special directories that can help you, such as church diocese and parish directories. See Brazil Church Directories for more information.

Several fairly recent directories for various cities and states of Brazil can be found on the Internet at: